Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-08
= Measure orDeGense.

For three years in succession the railroad
commissioners of New York have stood for
ward as defenders of the Erie canal against
en- naidious and dangerous form of aggres.
sion. Those who desire to see the canal
abandoned in order TO leave the coast clear
for the New York Central declare that the
railrosd commissioners are transcending
their legitimate power and duties in under
taking TO protect that competing waterway.
The commissioners take no such superficial
view of their functions. They wisely regard
the Erie canal ss the key to the situation.
They may fail 10 impress all their policy
upon the railroad companies and upon the
Legislature, but, so long Us the canal can be
maintained as g free competitor for freight,
there can be no monopoly in the carrying
business during the season of navigation,
and that much of relief will be insured to
our merchants and shippers. Therefore, the
commissioners have for three years past an
nually denounced the policy of discrimina-
ton adopted by competing rail lines against
their customers who choose TO ship goods by
the canal in the sumner months.
These men are required TO pay higher rail
freights in winter than those who give their
entire business TO the roads al! the year
round. This discrimination is in the nature
OF fine Inflicted upon persons who prefer
10 avail themselves of the cheap canal rates
It's evident effect, if not checked, can only
be 10 diminish the volume Of canal traffic,
and so pave the way 20 o successful agita-
l!on ia favor OF cloaing the canal. The re-
suit wouId be calamity so serious TO the
State that We cannot 5e loo careful TO pro
vent the possibility 0! is occurrence. The
canal must be protected against assault.
whether il comes in the form OF Il pick or
spade used for cutting the bank hnd letting
ont the water, or g railroad discrimination
ieveied at ;he pockets of every man who
dares 10 send his goods by canal instead oi
by the competing raj! route.
The prime object Of the Commissioners is
net to attack the few who enjoy these pre-
ferenhal rates from the railroad companies,
or to defend the many who suffer from the
discrimination. The gains OF losses of indi-
yiduals have little to do with the case. The
all important thing is to. save the canal from
these Vaccinations and preserve it for all
time as natural and healthful regulator Of
freight charges. operetingln this respect like
the Hudson River, or the Sound. Or any
other means Of free water communication.
The best law that could be passed aud the
pest COMMISSION lEIt CUu!C 10 appOiLlcu
might fail to curb the ambition and greed OF
great railroad corporations. But the silent
operation OF free canal running the whole
length Of the State is powerful and unerr-
ing If protected by the State in It's right
to live it will forever successfully defy all
attempts of the railroads to overtax the
traffic in grain and the other staples which
seek the Erie canal during the summer.
bill declaring such discrimination un-
lawful is again offered in the Assembly.
The penalty proposed is fine Of $1,000 for
each offense Hitherto, every measure of
this character has been killed by the rail
road lobby. It's reappearance will undoubt-
edly cause flutter in the Offices of the New
York Central, and members of the Legisla-
trre may expect to be persstently button
holed by the agents of that line in opposii,,
ton to the bill. But We trust they will
have the manhood and the common honesty
to resist all offers, however seductive, and
do their plain duty to their constituents and
the State by passing the bill, or some other
that will have an equivalent enect.-N 7.
Journal of Commerce.